Grille or screen



June 29, 1965 (5. BROWN 1 3,191,729

GRILLE OR SCREEN Filed June 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LEMUAL 6'. fieowu Jllne 1965 G. BROWN 3,191,729

' GRILLE 0R SCREEN Filed June 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- L5? 906 INVENTOR.

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June 29, 1965 L. e. BROWN GRILLE OR SCREEN 3. Sheets$heet 3 Filed June 1, 1964 i Ira-4 iINVENTOR. LEMUAL .G', fieowu United States Patent 3,191,729 GRHLE 0R SCREEN Lemual G. Brown, R0. Box 8777, Britten, Okla. Filed lune I, 1964, Ser. I o. 371,286 10 Claims. (Cl. 189-82) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 208,018, filed July 6, 1962, now abancloned.

The present invention relates to structural elements for shading portions of buildings, and more particularly, relates to an improved lightweight grille.

Many buildings are provided with cooling towers through which water is circulated for use in air conditioning systems, while other buildings have ventilating or air exhaust openings in their walls. It is desirable in construction of this type to provide grilles or louvers to shade and protect these portions of the air conditioning system from radiant heat in order to promote efficient operation, and also to present a pleasing external appearance to the buildings in which they are located. In many of the types of grilles heretofore provided, the grilles have consisted primarily of two major elements.

These elements are (a) thin elongated strips of metal or plastic, usually of a shape defining a plurality of juxtapositioned trapezoidal spaces, and (b) clips used to interconnect and space the clips from each other at regular intervals to form a lattice. A grille structure of this general type is illustrated in Hallock United States Patent 3,004,642.

One limitation characteristic of some of the grille structures heretofore in use is that encountered in assembling the structure as a result of the integral unitary nature of the clips and strips requiring assembly operations from a certain position, and limiting the facility with which the grillework pattern could be commenced or terminated at random points. Moreover, the integral or unsegmented nature of the clips and strips presented problems in shipment and storage as a result of the bulk space occupied by these elements of the grille structure.

Broadly described, the present invention comprises a novel sunshade type grille having elongated, fiat stringers or strips interconnected by clips which are segmented and can be disassembled to two nesting portions for storage and shipment. The strips which are interconnected by the clips are, in a preferred embodiment, of relatively short individual length as compared to many elongated strips used in previous types of grilles, and are adapted to be connected in end-to-end, geometrically repeating patterns so as to extend the assembled grille to any length desired.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a grille or screen which can be assembled for shading and protecting structural elements.

Another object is to provide a grille which may be easily fabricated from extruded, easily assembled, relatively simple parts so that an ornamental effect may be produced.

Another object is to provide a grille formed of components which are easily stacked in a relatively small area for shipping and storage.

A further object is to provide a device of this class which may be easily assembled manually, and which is sturdy and contains suflicient inherent rigidity to support its own weight and resist heavy wind or air pressure without collapsing.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by joining a series of strips in spaced relation by means of pairs of interlocking clip members.

Other objects will be apparent from the following de- $191,729 Patented June 29, 1965 scription when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of one embodiment of the grille.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

1iFIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the grille c p.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the clip and an alternate embodiment of the strips.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of the grille clip.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the grille, as a whole, comprising a frame 12 which supports opposing ends of thin strips of sheet metal or plastic 14, 15, 16, etc. A plurality of clips 20 and 20a, which are substantially identical in shape and size, connect the respective strips in spaced-apart relation. Each of the strips 14, 15 and 16, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, are substantially identical and have parallel portions 14a and 14b positioned in offset, horizontally and vertically spaced relation and joined to each other by angular portions 14c and 14d inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the interconnected parallel portions.

As shown in FIGURE 3, a typical clip is substantially parallelogram shaped in general configuration, and is segmented and formed by two interlocking generally U-shaped end sections A and B. The sections A and B may be formed of elongated extrusions by cutting the extrusions into sections of suitable width as may be required for a particular grille. The assembled clip 20 has opposing end Web portions 22 and 24 angularly bent intermediate their length to form pairs of opposing substantially parallel end portions 22a-24a and 22b-24b. A pair of parallel legs 26 and 28 are connected to the respective ends of the end web portion 22 and project toward a similar pair of legs 30 and 32 connected to the opposing end web portion 24. The legs 26 and 28 are each provided at their free ends with a transverse angular inwardly directed end portion 34 forming a transverse groove 36 which cooperatively receives in interlocking relation a transverse hook-shaped end portion 38 formed on the free ends of each leg 30 and 32. The legs 30 and 32 slightly converge inwardly toward each other at their free ends so that a beveled surface on their hook-shaped portions 38 are cooperatively received in sliding relation by a beveled surface 39 on the end portions 34 for ease in joining and maintaining the end sections A and B in assembled relation.

At their line of intersection with their respective legs, each of the end web portions 22 and 24 are provided with transverse lugs 40-42, and 4446, respectively. Each of the lugs are undercut to form transverse grooves 40a, 42a, 44a and 46a defined by flanges 40b, 42b, 44b and 46b, and the respective legs 28, 26, 32 and 30, for receiving opposing side edge portions of the strips. The strips 14, 15 and 1%, are positioned in the frame 12 and inclined, as shown by FIGURE 2. The clips 20 are assembled on the strips by positioning the end section A on one side of the strips and the end section B on the opposite side of the position of the parallel portions 14a of the strips with the respective strip receiving grooves 4951-4461 and 42a-46a, aligned with opposing side edges of the strips. The clip end sections A and B are manually forced toward each other so that the hook portions 38 snap into position within the recesses while simultaneously the opposing side edge portions of the strip tea are cooperatingly received within the aligned grooves 46a and 44a and the adjacent parallel opposing side edge portions of the next strip are cooperatingly received within the aligned grooves 42a and 46a. As shown in FIGURE 2, the parallel portions of the strips contiguously contact the outer surface of the assembled legs 26-39 and 28-32. which prevents any movement of the hook-shaped portions SS out of the respective recess 36- As many of the segmented clips and 29a as desired are installed between the respective strips to complete the grille and support the strips.

The strips 14, 15, 16, etc., are shown of continuous length in FIGURES l and 2,v but may be each formed of a plurality of pairs of sections, indicated by the letters C and D (FIGURES 4 and 5). The sections C and D may be formed by transversely cutting elongated lengths of rigid extruded material. sembled grille.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the sections C and D are generally Z-shaped in cross section having off-set, horizontally and vertically spaced parallel end portions Sit and 52 joined by a central portion 54 inclined at an obtuse angle to said parallel end portions. The free edge of the end portion is provided with a depending angular inclined section 56, forming a transverse groove 58 below the plane of the upper surface of the end portion 50 as viewed in FIGURE 5. The free edge of the end portion 52 is provided with a epending transverse hook-shaped edge at which is cooperatingly received within the groove 58 and positions the upper surfaces of the end portions 59 and 52, when assem- O bled, in a common plane. The strips-C and D are assembled on the clips 20 and 29a by manually sliding cooperating end portions 5i) and 52 of the strips C and D into the respective grooves 42a45a or dew i412.

Beads 62, formed on the depending surface of the end portions 50 and 52 as viewed in FlGURE 5, contact the outer surface of the clip leg portions to compensate for the angular portion 5.: on the strip end portion 5% so that the strips C and D are snugly positioned within the clip grooves.

7 A modified embodiment of the clips'used for spacing and interconnecting elongated, thin strips of sheet metal used in the grille of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 6. The two interlocking end sections A and B are again provided and include angularly bent end web portions 22 and 24, as well as the parallel legs 26, 28, 3t, and 32, similarly to the embodiment of theclip illustrated in FIGURE 3. In referring to FIGURE 6, it will be noted, however, that the means provided for interlocking the end sections A and B differs from that provided in the FIGURE 3 embodiment. Thus, the leg 26 of the end section A is provided with a hook-shaped end portion 2.90 which engages a transverse groove 102 formed on the leg 39 of the end section B. The parallel leg 28 of the end section A, on the other hand, is provided with a transverse groove M4, sub- This adds rigidity to the asstantially identical to the groove 102 formed in leg 3%) of end section B. The transverse groove 104 is dimensioned to mate with and engage the transverse hook-shaped end portion 106 formed on the leg 32. The advantage of the embodiment of the clip shown in FIGURE 6 over that shown in FIGURE 3 is that the end sections A and B of the FIGURE 6 clip are interchangeable and do not require matching during assembly. In other words, the end section A is identical to the end section B and it is unnecessary to provide two diiierent types of extrusions which must be paired up or matched in order to assemble the grille.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability and without departure from the basic principles upon which it is founded. I, therefore, do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiments which are shown in the drawings and hereinbefore described except as the spirit and scope of the invention may be necessarily limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

i- I claim: 1. A grille for shading a portion of a building comprising:

a plurality of flat, elongated strips each having at least two, off-set, horizontally and vertically spaced, parallel portions interconnected by a portion inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to said parallel portions;

clips positioned between and engaging the parallel portions of pairs of said strips, said clips each being segmented to facilitate assembly of said grille and compactness in shipment of said grille, the segments of each of said clips comprising two opposing end sections each having parallel legs interconnected at their proximal ends by end web portions, the parallel legs of one of said end sections having means at their free ends detachably engaging the free ends of the parallel legs of the other of said end sections to form one of said clips; and

engaging means secured to said clips at the intersection of each of said parallel legs with its respective end web portion and engaging the parallel portions of said flat strips and securing said strips in fixed spatial relation to each other.

2. A grille as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strips are formed of thin sheet material; and in which the parallel portions of said strips are disposed in two different planes.

3. A grille as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized to include means on said two parallel portions interconnecting a plurality of said strips to each other in endto-end relation and in repeating geometric configuration.

4. A grille as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engaging means secured to said clips comprises a grooved lug positioned at the intersection of each of said parallel legs with its respective end web portion.

5. A grille for shading a portion of a building comprising:

, a plurality of fiat, elongated strips each having at least two oil-set, horizontally and vertically spaced, parallel portions having parallel longitudinal edges and interconnected by a portion inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to said parallel portions;

clips positioned between and engaging the parallel portions of pairs of said strips, said clips each being segmented to facilitate assembly of said grille and compactness in shipment of said grille, the segments of each of said clips including two opposing end sections each having parallel legs interconnected at their proximal ends by end web portions with the parallel legs of each of said end sections being detachably engaged with each other to form one of said clips, and each end section of each clip further including strip receiving elements extending from the line of intersection of each of its respective parallel legs with their respective end web portion, said strip receiving elements being C-shaped in configuration and engaging a longitudinal edge of one of the parallel portions of said strips.

6. A grille, comprising: a plurality of strips, each strip having portions disposed in off-set parallel relation; and clips positioned between and engaging opposing edge portions of said strips, each of said clips including opposite end members, one said end member having a pair of parallel legs extending toward the other said end member, each said leg being provided with a transverse recess in its free end portion, the other said end member having a pair of legs extending toward the first mentioned pair of legs and each provided with a hook-shaped portion cooperatively engaging the respective recess in the first mentioned pair of legs, said end members each having means at their juncture with their respective leg extending around and engaging opposing edges of adjacent parallel portions of said strips.

, 7. Structure as specified in claim 6 in which the parallel portions of said strips are positioned in two ditferent planes,

8. Structure as specified in claim '7 in which said strips 5 are transversely divided at each parallel portion to form Z- shaped strip sections; and locking means formed on the respective end edges of said Z-shaped sections.

9. A spacing and connecting clip for use in a grille employed to shade a portion of a building, said clip comprising:

a pair of detachably interconnected end sections, said end sections each having a pair of parallel legs and a Web portion interconnecting said legs; and

means formed on the free ends of said legs detachably interlocking said legs together to form said clip; and

means at the line of intersection of said legs with their respective Web portions adapted to extend around and engage the opposing parallel edges of grille forming strips, said strip engaging means including a flange extending parallel to the respective leg and spaced therefrom to define a strip receiving groove With the respective leg.

19. A spacing unit for a grille of the type used to shade a portion of a building comprising:

a pair of generally U-shaped end members each having a pair of parallel legs interconnected by a web portion; and

cooperating locking means formed on the free ends of each of said pairs or" legs for interlocking said U- shaped end members to each other to form a substantially parallelogram-shaped clip; and

means at the opposite ends of said parallel legs from said cooperating locking means adapted for engaging opposing edges of parallel portions of grille forming strips, said strip engaging means including a flange extending parallel to the respective leg and spaced therefrom to define a strip receiving groove with the respective leg.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,073,278 3/37 Hohl 50204 3,004,642 10/61 Hallock 189-82 3,068,970 12/62 Neal l8934 X 20 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner. 

1. A GRILLE FOR SHADING A PORTION OF A BUILDING COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF FLAT, ELONGATED STRIPS EACH HAVING AT LEAST TWO, OFF-SET, HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY SPACED, PARALLEL PORTIONS INTERCONNECTED TO A PORTION INCLINED AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID PARALLEL PORTIONS; CLIP POSITIONED BETWEEN AND ENGAGING THE PARALLEL PORTIONS OF PAIRS OF SAID STRIPS, SAID CLIPS EACH BEING SEGMENTED TO FACILITATE ASSEMBLY OF SAID GRILLE AND COMPACTNESS IN SHIPMENT OF SAID GRILLE, THE SEGMENTS OF EACH OF SAID CLIPS COMPRISING TWO OPPOSING END SECTIONS EACH HAVING PARALLEL LEGS INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR PROXIMAL ENDS BY END WEB PORTIONS, THE PARALLEL LEGS OF ONE OF SAID END SECTIONS HAVING MEANS AT THEIR FREE ENDS DETACHABLY ENGAGING THE FREE ENDS OF THE PARALLEL LEGS OF THE OTHER OF SAID END SECTIONS TO FORM ONE OF SAID CLIPS; AND ENGAGING MEANS SECURED TO SAID CLIPS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EACH OF SAID PARALLEL LEGS WITH ITS RESPECTIVE END WEB PORTION AND ENGAGING THE PARALLEL PORTIONS OF SAID FLAT STRIP AND SECURING SAID STRIPS IN FIXED SPATIAL RELATION TO EACH OTHER. 